Razor blade holder



FIG.

J. C. LATHAM RAZOR BLADE HOLDER Filed March 13, 1961 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS FIG. 4.

James C. Lofhom pyum 132W FIG. 7.

FIG.8.

ll-iiii Sept. 5, 1961 m m O O waw M6 u n a a United States Patent 2,998,650 RAZOR BLADE HOLDER James C. Latham, 9008 Fairview Ave., San Gabriel, Calif. Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 95,313 2 Claims. (Cl. 30-162) This invention relates to a razor blade and to a sheath to be used for storing the blade safely and conveniently when the blade is not in use and to be used as a handle and means for supporting the blade firmly when the cutting edge of the razor blade is to be used as a knife or cutting tool.

Many occasions arise daily when a cut-ting tool is required, e.g. to trim hangnails, clip newspaper items, sever loose threads, sharpen pencils, open fiber board cartons or wrapped parcels, scraping stickers or paint from glass surfaces, and countless other familiar uses. Few men and even fewer women carry a pocket knife, scissors, razor blade or other cutting tool with them and rely instead on their finger nails, teeth or brute strength to perform a task which could much more easily be accomplished with a razor blade.

Ever since the advent and widespread use of razor blades, both single-edge and double-edge, the supply of used blades has become almost unlimited. Most used blades which are discarded as unfit for shaving are available for other uses. As a consequence, many blade holders have appeared on the market. Some of the marketed devices make the blade secure by clamping it between two metal surfaces, by means of a set screw, generally in a manner which exposes the entire blade edge. Otherblade holders hold the blade slidably within their confines and often use the tip of a screw or other pointed member to bear on the blade and hold it secure in any fixed position.

These and other blade holders now marketed are not suited for carrying a razor blade in a pocket or purse, because of size, shape, weight, appearance or inconvenience.

One object is to provide a blade holder in a size and finish which make it attractive, convenient and easy to carry in the same manner as other pocket accessories.

Another object of this invention is to provide a razor blade holder within which the blade may be securely held when in use and when not in use.

A further object is to provide a holder within which the entire blade cutting edge is sheathed when not in use.

Another object is to provide a blade holder from which the blade may be released from a storage or non-use position to an unsheathed or use position, by simple manipulation of the fingers of one hand.

Still another object is to provide a blade holder in which the blade may be easily replaced, so that a sharp edge is always available.

Another object is to provide a blade holder of good quality which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a readily portable blade holder adapted to be carried on a key ring or watch chain.

Still another object is to provide a blade holder with only one moving part for loading the blade or for releasing the blade from a non-use position to a use position.

A further object is to provide a blade holder in which no stresses are imposed on any portions of the blade, as by set screws or binding means which result in breakage of the blade.

These and other objects will be made apparent in the description of the improved razor-blade holder of this invention which follows, taken. with the drawings in which:

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 ice FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a razor blade holder embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the razor blade holder of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of the inside face of the rear panel of the razor blade holder of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the inside face of the front panel of the razor blade holder of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of the razor blade holder of FIGURE 1 showing the blade holder with the front and rear panels together, i.e. in their norm-ally closed position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section taken through plane 6-6 on FIGURE 1, showing the blade holder with the front and rear panels spread apart, i.e. in their opened position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view in section taken along plane 7-7 of FIGURE 1, showing details of the cam and slidable blade holder-spreading and blade-releasing member;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective of the blade-releasing member;

FIGURE 9 shows the blades holder with the blade in one position for use;

FIGURE 10 shows the blade holder with the blade in another position for use.

The razor blade holder of the present invention is adapted to use a razor blade 20 having a thickened rear or back edge 26 such as that known as the Gem razor blade having a thickness at the back edge of about and at the cutting edge of about 0.009. It is usually provided with a central slot 24 and end notches 22 as shown in the drawings. By suitable modification, the principles of my invention can be readily employed to accommodate other blades.

The blade holder of the present invention comprises a sheath 10 consisting of a front panel 30 and a rear panel 50 secured along one side margin by rivets, screws, welding, adhesive or any other means, suitable to the materials from which panels 30 and 50 are made. Instead of two panels, a single blank of metal bent or folded along a median plane may be used; this avoids the need for fastening means 12. In the drawings, the two panels are shown fastened by means of screws 12. The sheath 10 may be provided with a hole 14 permitting it to be carried on a key ring or watch chain. Sheath 10 may be formed of stainless steel nickelor chromium-plated steel, or other tarnish-resistant metal appealing to masculine tastes or it may be formed of plastic, ceramic or other nonmetallic materials deemed more attractive by feminine users.

Preferably the outer face of the front panel 30 is free from any ornamentation. In addition to hole 14 and holes for screws 12, panel 30 is pierced by two openings which extend through the panel as best seen in FIGURE 4. The smaller hole 32 is located adjacent the upper edge and is provided to accommodate the bulbous portion of the slidable member shown in FIGURE 8. The larger aperture 34 is more or less centrally located in panel 30 and provides access for the users fingers to push the blade from within the sheath 10, outwardly between the front and rear panels, when the panels have been urged apart to release the razor blade in a manner described below.

The inner face of the front panel 30* is, depicted in FIGURE 4. As shown, portions of the inner surface the upper edge of panel. 30. When theblade holderis assembled, track 36 and opening 32 receive the upper surface of the blade unlatching member shown in FIGURE 8. Tracks 38 and 40 extend parallel to one another across substantially the entire width of the inner face of panel 30, and are of a depth and width sufficient to accommodate the thickened portion 26 on the back side of razor blade 20. Track 38 receives portion 26 of the blade when the blade is completely within the sheath, or when it is partly removed, as in the position shown in FIGURE '10. Track 40 receives the thickened portion 26 of blade when the blade is in the position shown in FIGURE 9, and may be omitted when it is not desired to use the blade in a manner which involves its release, withdrawal and reloading into the blade holder, which women may find objectionable.

The inner surface of panel carries two pins 42 and 44, which as shown are located adjacent margin at which blade 20 enters tracks 38 or 40. Pin 42 serves to lock blade 20 in the sheath whether the blade is entirely within the sheath, in which blade position, pin 42 passes through end notch 22 normally provided on the blade, or the blade is only partly inserted in the sheath as in the position shown in FIGURE 10, in which blade position pin 42 passes through a central opening 24 in the blade. Pin 44 prevents blade 20 from sliding out of the sheath by passing through recess 22 in the blade when the blade is in the position shown in FIGURE 9.

The rear panel 50 is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Rear panel 50 is of the same generally rectangular shape as front panel 30. The outer face of panel 50 presents a solid, smooth surface on which there may be engraved, stamped or otherwise aflixed any ornamentation, identification or other significant information. The inner face of panel 50 is drilled at 52 and 54 to provide recesses dimensioned to receive pins 42 and 44. In addition the inner face of panel 50 is provided with two channels 56 and 58, milled in the inner face so as to mate with tracks 38 and in the inner face of the front panel 30. The channels of tracks 56 and 58 are of the same configuration as the channels of tracks 38 and 40, the total area of each pair of milled grooves being sufficient to slidably receive the thickened edge 26 of the blade. In blade holders in which track 40 is omitted, track 58 will also be omitted.

The inner face of panel is provided with a recess 60, seen best in FIGURES 3 and 7. The profile of recess 60, seen in FIGURE 7, is such that at its low point it completely receives the enlarged end portion of member 80 and exerts no pressure against the tip of member 80. In positions intermediate of the ends of recess 60, member 80 moves out of recess 60, and the body portion of member 80 bears against the inner face of panel 30 and forces panel 30 to move a suificient amount to enlarge the space between panels 30 and 50, an amount sufficient to cause pins 42 and 44 to withdraw completely from recesses 52 and 54 and to provide enough clearance to release blade 20 from the blade holder.

The blade releasing member 80 is best shown in FIGURE 8. As seen, member 80 comprises a strip portion 82, formed of a resilient material, such as aluminum or an aluminum base alloy, on one side of which there is supported a knob or handle 84, located intermediate of the ends of strip 82, and on the reverse surface of which, at one extremity of strip 82, there is located a cam 86. Cam 86 may be rectangular, wedge-shaped, or curvilinear in shape, the size and shape of cam 86 depending on the profile of recess 60. Knob 84 and strip 82 are of such dimensions that they may be freely slidable in opening 32 and trackway 36, respectively.

It is believed that the manner in which the improved blade holder functions will be apparent from the foregoing description, but for additional clarity the manner in which the blade holder is used will now be described.

With the blade holder assemblied, i.e. with member 80 positioned between panels 30 and 50 so that strip 82 slides freely in track 36, knob 84 is moved so that cam 86 riding in groove 60 raises strip 82 against the inner surface of panel 30 and spreads panels 30 and 50 apart, moving pin 42 out of recess 52 as shown in FIGURE 6. l With the open side of sheath 10 facing up, a single edge razor blade is dropped into the enlarged recess formed between panels 30 and 50, the enlarged blade portion being received in the channel defined by grooves 38 and 1 56. The knob 84 is then moved so that cam 86 moves to the bottom of groove 60, thereby permitting panels 30 and 50 to draw together and assume their normally closed position, shown in FIGURE 5. Pin 42 is now received in recess 52 and effectively prevents blade 20 from falling out of the sheath 10.

When it is desired to use the blade, the blade is released by moving knob 84 to cam panels 30 and 50 apart, at the same time the blade is urged outwardly by thumb pressure applied directly to the blade through opening 34. When the blade has been moved to the position of FIGURE 10, the knob 84 is retracted to move the cam into the bottom of groove 60 and to permit panels 30 and 50 to draw together. Pin 42 passes through slit 24 in the blade 20 as the head of pin 42 seats in recess 52, thereby locking the blade in place. To place the blade in the position of FIGURE 9, the sheath is cammed open, the blade is slid out, entirely out, and then reinserted in the channel formed by grooves 40 and 58. Releasing the cam causes pin 44 to seat in hole 54 and locks the blade in place as shown in FIGURE 10.

To further simplify the manufacture of the blade holder, sheath portion 10, consisting of front and rear panels 30 and 50 may be manufactured from a single blank, e.g. by milling one surface of the blank to form grooved channels 36, 38, 40, 56 and 58 and cam way 60; and thereafter bending the blank to bring tracks 38 and '40 opposite to tracks 56 and 58. When proceeding in this manner, all of the recesses 52, 54, 14, 32 and 34 may be punched or drilled while the blank is in position for milling. Thereafter pins 42 and 44 are secured in position and then the blank is bent to enclose member with knob 84 extending through hole 32 and strip 82 in groove 36.

Having described my invention in accordance with the patent statutes, I claim:

1. A razor blade holder comprising a generally rectangular sheath consisting of a front panel and a rear panel in side by side relation with their inner surfaces facing one another, said front panel and said rear panel being joined along one common shorter edge, leaving the three remaining sides of each panel unattachced to the corresponding side of the opposite panel; at least one channel shaped groove in the inner face of said front panel and a similar groove in the inner face of the rear panel, opposite to the groove in said front panel, said opposed grooves, together forming a channel adapted to receive the thickened back portion of a single edge razor blade, said grooves extending transversely of said panels from the vicinity of the joined edges to the opposite unjoincd edge; an access opening through one of said panels to said groove; means spreading said panels apart when said means is in one position and for permitting said panels to return to an unspread position when said means is in another position; and a pin in said front panel, adjacent the edge opposite the secured edge, and a hole in said rear panel, opposite said pin and of a size to receive said pin and to thereby secure a blade received in said sheath.

2. The razor blade holder of claim 1 wherein said means spreading said panels apart is a strip slidable between said panels, said strip having an enlarged terminal portion adapted to be cammed by a groove in one of said panels.

No references cited. 

